In a handful of interviews this season, Rams President John Shaw has been adamant that he will make no coaching change during the 2007 season. But that's as far as he would go.

Beyond that, Shaw's stock answer had been that he would wait until after this season to evaluate Linehan's job security beyond '07. But in an interview with the Post-Dispatch late last week, Shaw all but said Linehan will return next season.

"I've maintained all along that we'll evaluate it at the end of the season," Shaw said. "And we will look at our entire football program. But in all fairness, the head coach has had a tremendous amount of obstacles to overcome. And the team has competed throughout the year despite its record."

Then came the clincher: "It would be surprising if there was a change in our head-coaching position," Shaw said

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Perhaps the ultimate referendum on a struggling head coach is whether the players are continuing to play hard. As Shaw sees it, the Rams haven't given in on the season; or given up on Linehan.

"I believe he's a good coach, and the team has competed despite the obstacles it's had to overcome," Shaw said.

Because of the way the season has unfolded, with the team playing noticeably better over the past month, those close to Shaw say he is surprised at the continued speculation over Linehan's job security.

Shaw apparently has taken note of the fact that Atlanta's Bobby Petrino, San Francisco's Mike Nolan and the New York Jets Eric Mangini all have been given various votes of confidence by team management or ownership in those respective cities.

"And those organizations have a whole lot less excuses than (the Rams)," said one Rams Park insider.

The Falcons thing is just utterly ridiculous. Yeah, we have had our injuries, but our QB isn't in jail, our coach (although a lot of us Rams fans wish he did) hasn't quit on us, and the Falcons have the trio of Joey Harrington, Byron Leftwich, and Chris Redman playing QB right now. However, IDK where to stand. I mean the year before we won the super bowl we were 3-13. The year before Martz took us to the SB we were a disappointing 2nd place team and lost to the Saints in the 1st round. So maybe, why not, give him another shot. I mean, we aren't gonna get a big name to come to a franchise where in a game between Green Bay and St. Louis in St. Louis it is 70% Packer fans there.